Gatlinburg Board approves parking structure right-of-way, rezoning first reading, insurance renewals, transit grant and ALPR expansion

The Gatlinburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved multiple routine municipal measures at its October meeting, including a right-of-way use for a parking structure, a first-reading rezoning ordinance, renewals of employee insurance plans for 2026, a state operating grant for transit, an expanded automated license-plate reader (ALPR) contract and authorization to sign an estoppel certificate tied to a long-term lease assignment.

Right-of-way use and parking structure: The Board approved a request for right-of-way use at 1357 North Baden Drive to accommodate a parking structure that includes internal turnaround space. Staff reported the parcel is approximately 0.19 acres, contains a 2,500-square-foot house and is zoned R-1; police and fire review concluded the design satisfies their operational needs. The motion carried by voice vote; no individual roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript.

Rezoning—Ordinance 26-43 (first reading): The Board conducted the first reading of Ordinance 26-43, amending the Gatlinburg zoning ordinance (Ordinance 8-30) to reclassify Parcel 76.02 (Tax Map 108) at 759 Buckhorn Road from R-1 (low-density residential) to C-5 (Craft Commercial). Staff and the East Tennessee Development District reviewed the request and reported no opposition; the first reading passed.

Employ…